5 - Loss and Gain
Daniel POV
"Just got to Pewter City and you already have not one, but two Pokemon above their first stage," Xander noted with approval. "Well done, you're shaping up fast, Mr. Ketchum." Ash beams at the compliment. "Now, as a parting gift and as a reward for such accomplishments, I will scan your Pokemon with my Hyperdex, tell you what I find, and give you my personal advice."
"Hyperdex?" Misty inquired.
I bring out my bronze version of the Hyperdex. "Professor Exclusive Pokedex," I explain. "For now, at least. They have numerous functions and can analyze Pokemon in far better detail than what you have…" I see her temper beginning to rise and sigh. "And before you go on about how it's unfair, these Hyperdexes are one: very recent, two: still under development, three: expensive as heck, and four: not open to the public until a suitably cheap design is perfected and can be mass produced."
"If you both behave, I promise Daniel will scan your Pokemon," Xander states, making me frown at him. He just shrugged and gestured for Ash to let out his Pokemon. Misty moves over to us, trying to get a glimpse of the Hyperdex in action, but I make sure she doesn't get anywhere near it. I can't even afford it, Xander managed to convince the other Professors that as his future assistant, I'll need one just as capable as his own.
Xander kneels down and starts with Pidgeotto.
"Hmm… its speed is high up there, and its attack is quite high for its species…" he informed the young trainer. "I'd make sure to train him physical attacks, as a special attack won't do much for him. Also, he is not a very durable Pokemon, so try hit and run tactics."
Ash eagerly soaked up the information with rapid nodding.
"Butterfree… an all around average Pokemon, no specific stat really stands out aside from its special attack, so I suggest to train him special attacks. Personally, I wouldn't use him against the gym, as he has a severe type disadvantage, but he does have a wide variety of status moves, so that could be very useful."
Ash nodded in understanding. Or at least… I hope it was understanding. I'm not exactly sure how much Xander taught him… I'll teach him anything Xander didn't, if need be.
"And last, but not least…" Xander muttered as he turned to scan Pikachu. "Hmm… Oh my…"
"What is it?" Ash questions.
Xander looks up. "Pikachu here is quite a special one… he is the Pikachu, to be precise. Top of the line, best possible natural stats… actually…" He fell back to sit down. "Ash… do not let go of this Pikachu… I didn't… oh Arceus…"
Worried, I lean over and examine the screen.
Pikachu - NDex: 25.
Type: Electric
Species: Mouse
Sex: Male
Level: 11
Nature: Naughty
Ability: Static - [FileIncomplete:DataNeeded]% chance to paralyze a pokemon when hit with a contact move. !*
Personal Stats:
HP: 10/10 !*
ATK: 10/10 !*
DEF: 10/10 !*
: 10/10 !*
SPDEF: 10/10 !*
SPD: 10/10 !*
Comparative Stats:
HP: 45:100 ?*
ATK: 80:100 ?*
DEF: 50:100 ?*
: 75:100 ?*
SPDEF: 60:100 ?*
SPD: 120:100 ?*
Known Moves:
Thundershock: Electric: Special: 40
Quick Attack: Normal: Physical: 40
Thunderwave: Electric: Status: Paralysis
-[System Analysis]
[SystemFile: ErrorAnalysis, FileID:989, FileName: AbnormalAbility] - {1 count} [OpenDirectory: AbnormalAbility] - [AbnormalAbilityFileName: TheoryAbilities, FileID: 003, FileName: Limitless] - Hypothetical ability written after seeing unknown gene in random Pokemon. One of three possible hidden abilities I have come up with after analysis of said Pokemon. If it exists, this ability essentially means a Pokemon does not cap at level 100 like usual. Essentially meaning they could constantly gather power.
[SystemFile: ErrorAnalysis, FileID: 287, FileName: UPerStat] - Numerical Value above Maximum. - {6 counts]
[SystemFile: DataAnalysis, FileID: 042, FileName: UComStat] - Numerical Value above recorded maximum. - {6 counts} - [Data Downloaded For Research]
My mouth drops at that. "Wh-what the!?"
Xander looks up to Ash. "You, me, and Pikachu need to have a serious talk." He turned to me. "Make sure Miss Nosy doesn't hear this. If you need to, use Charmander to do so."
"I've nicknamed her Nova, by the way," I mention, feeling the Pokeball holding my starter shake at her name. I smile as I grab her Pokeball and let her out. Misty, of course, just laughs.
"I'm a water type trainer!" She says smugly.
As Ash and his Pokemon follow Xander into a somewhat private place, I grin menacingly in Misty's direction. "Why, who said I would use her on your Pokemon?"
"Char…" Nova growled, her small tail flame flaring up.
Misty gulped.
"Welp, it's time we part ways, Ash, Daniel," Xander sighed, closing his Hyperdex. The message he got was probably saying he was needed by a professor. From what he said earlier, it's probably Professor Birch.
"Wait… really?" Ash asked. "It's been less than a week!"
Xander sighed. "I've got to take a plane to Hoenn, Professor Birch finally called and is curious about Porygon2's evolution. Not only did I promise to help, but going to his lab gives me access equipment Professor Oak doesn't. Namely the Stat Analyzer, something we got Devon Co to work on several weeks ago. It just finished, and I haven't any time to waste. Perhaps I'll catch myself a Pokemon for myself there if I have the time."
To Ash and Misty (who was ticked at being ignored), they thought Xander spoke aloud was merely that. To me, he was saying he was getting Athena, his Gardevoir. Figures, he's probably been manipulating things in order to get all his preferred Pokemon with ease.
"Can you at least stay to watch my gym battle?" Ash asked hopefully.
Xander shook his head. "Afraid not, Birch already got my flight booked, and I have to get to Saffron City Airport in less than a day. The next bus to Saffron arrives in less than ten minutes, though knowing my luck with time…" He sighed. "Sorry Ash, I'll try to be at your next one."
Ash sighed sadly, but accepted it. "Alright then, see ya around."
"Don't have too much fun without me," I quip.
Xander scoffed. "Sure, I bet you're going to enjoy not being woken up by my pleasant little dreams and having to knock some sense back into me." I sigh at the self-loathing tone within his voice, but don't comment on it. Ash and Misty have no need to know about his problems.
"Welp, see ya," Xander said simply, before turning and walking towards the bus stop. Disheartened, Ash said he wanted to wait a bit before challenging the gym, before walking off somewhere.. Misty shrugged and commented that it would be a good time to train before going after Ash. I hated having to agree with her, but Nova really wanted to train. As I also felt obligated to keep an eye on them, I reluctantly followed them.
"Alright Nova, use Ember as fast as you can, and don't stop until I say!" I call out. Nova, panting a bit from her hard training so far, nodded sharply, and gave a determined 'Char!' before firing off the beginning Fire move as fast as she could.
Several minutes later, I call stop. Nova just started to begin to look a bit too exhausted to continue. Considering Nova had ran a mile lap with me, been sniping at small pebbles I threw into the air, scratched trees as hard and as fast as possible, and several other tasks, she lasted way longer than I expected. Then again, her nature was Hardy…
Nova nearly collapsed on the spot. Worried that I pushed her too far, I gently pick her up. "You alright Nova? I didn't push you too hard, did I?"
"Mander…" Nova groaned out tiredly. "Char…"
"Do you want me to lessen on the training?"
"CHAR!" Nova replied sharply, her head shaking. Guess she's a stubborn one then. I couldn't help but smile at my Pokemon's determination.
"Alright then, we'll do this again tomorrow," I smirk, "Unless you want to rest your weary bones?"
"Char," Nova glared at me. I have a feeling she said something very rude to me, and to be honest, I deserve it. I return Nova to her Pokeball and make my way to the Pokemon Center. The moon was getting easier to see, and despite my thoughts that Xander didn't bother me with his rude awakenings, I was looking forward to a restful sleep.
(I'm not going to describe any canon battles UNLESS I decide to change the outcome, as such, we will do a time skip to after Ash beats Brock)
The gym is practically ruined. The sprinklers are going off, there are small fires in the stadium, rocks are pulverized and a slight cloud of dust still covered the ground. Misty the annoying is blinking in shock at the sudden turn of luck for Ash, Brock is stunned at the series of events, and I'm banging my head against the wall wondering how Ash's luck works the way it does.
"I know I said use your surroundings Ash…" Xander's voice droned through my Hyperdex, "But that's not what I meant…"
"Umm… sorry?" the young trainer apologized, though his tone was one of uncertainty. Xander snorted loudly with amusement, then looked to his right in question, before turning back with a 'shoo' motion of his hand in the direction he was once looking. Currently, Xander was on a plane to Hoenn, but I got the idea to start a video call with him to watch the battle. Both bored and wanting to see Ash's match, he agreed. Unfortunately, Ash felt worse when he lost the first time, apologizing to Xander for wasting his time.
"The heck you saying sorry for kid?" he asked, his accent going from the usual 'polite professor' into his more natural 'blunt battler'. "You won! Who cares how you did it? Well, as long as it isn't anything illegal, that is. What impresses me more is that Pikachu knows Thunderbolt! That's one of the really good moves for any electric Pokemon!"
Though he was tired and woozy, the electric mouse cried its name triumphantly with a punch to the air. The three of us chuckled at the Pokemon's antics.
"But… isn't it a bit unfair?" Ash asked, turning to Xander. "I mean, with the sprinklers slowing Onix down so much, Pikachu and I had an unfair advantage…"
"Hah!" the older Trainer laughed, "In my opinion, the only unfair advantages are the ones the opponent has!"
"He has a point," Brock suddenly said, his squinted eyes on the screen of my Hyperdex. "Admittedly, it's a somewhat crude statement, but it's true. If you have an advantage that you can use, use it. Pokemon Battles are not just calling commands, it involves a lot of various things," the teen stated. "It was an unexpected event, yes, but it was a change of environment, a perfectly legal tactic in battling. I wasn't prepared to adjust to it, but you took advantage of it, how any trainer should react."
Brock went over to Ash, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a Boulder Badge, which he handed to Ash. "As proof of your victory, I present you with the Boulder Badge."
Ash excitedly took the badge and thrusted it up with a cheer. "Alright! I got the Boulder Badge!"
"You dream of being a Pokemon Master, right?" Brock asked.
Ash nodded.
"Well then, good luck on following your dream…" he said politely. Then he sighed, "I wish I was able to follow mine."
"What's your dream Brock?" Misty suddenly asked. Nosy girl. Sure, Brock pretty much invited someone to ask, but she's still nosy.
Brock smiled. "I always wanted to become a breeder. I enjoy caring for Pokemon more than I care for battling." His face fell. "Then my dad suddenly ran off, leaving me to care for me and all my siblings."
"Something I have come to rectify," an older voice said.
We all turn (well all but Xander, who I turned myself), to see the old man selling rocks earlier. The next several minutes was an interesting reunion between father and son, ending with Flint wishing his son luck in following his dream.
This, of course, results in Brock requesting to join Ash, who heartily accepts. Xander, of course, chooses that time to disconnect, saying he had some business involving John. I was the only one who got the joke.
Sorry this one was so short, I kinda got stumped at this part, and I didn't want to waste time transcribing a whole battle for the only adjustments being Xander and Daniel's comments. There will be battles soon, in fact, one is in the next chapter.
As for Xander, this is the point I start the Interludes. Whenever Xander is off doing something major for a long period of time, interludes will come up describing what is going on. A majority of the time it will be one or two interludes per expedition, since it's a somewhat summary of what he's doing.
With Ash, Daniel, Misty, and Brock, this is where we focus more on Daniel. I plan by Chapter 10 to have all this base character work done, and then we really focus on the adventure.
As for Daniel's Battle, don't worry, that's next chapter's start. I just couldn't find a proper way to get it in without it looking out of place.